Management of Unplanned Leave in Emergency Services

Tabled: 6 March 2013

Operational staff at Ambulance Victoria (AV), the Metropolitan
Fire and Emergency Services Board (MFESB) and Victoria Police
(VicPol) are more likely to suffer injuries and emotional stress,
and have higher rates of unplanned leave, than other public sector
staff.

AV, MFESB and VicPol have each recognised the importance of
managing unplanned leave. However, there are significant
differences in how effectively and efficiently they are each
managing the issues.

Both AV and VicPol have been generally effective and efficient
in managing unplanned leave, although AV recognises the need to
reduce the personal unplanned leave levels of paramedics and other
operational staff.

AV and VicPol have effective management oversight, supported by
sound and practical data that enables their frontline managers to
manage and support staff. They are aware of the causes of unplanned
leave and have either implemented, or are developing actions to
address these.

However, MFESB needs to improve considerably. Compared to its
peer agencies it has the poorest unplanned leave performance.
MFESB's management has been aware of the causes of personal
unplanned leave since 2000 but it has not adequately addressed
them. There is a lack of frontline management accountability for
unplanned leave, and a lack of regular data on firefighters’
unplanned leave available to managers.